Vaccines delivered for Mae Hong Son public health and border patrol staff

These staff face high risk of infection from dealing with refugees and migrant workers from Myanmar.

Besides the vaccine, the Public Health Ministry also provided 100,000 surgical face masks, 20,000 N95 face masks and alcohol hand sanitizers to the hospital.

“Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed concern for the staff working with refugees and migrant labourers in Mae Hong Son, where an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people cross the border into Thailand each day,” said Anutin.

“The Ministry of Public Health therefore will provide 2,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine to hospital and border patrol staff to protect them against the virus and reduce the chance of severe symptoms or death in case of infection.”

The minister also visited the quarantine facility in Mae Sariang Hospital to ensure they could handle Myanmar refugees and migrant labourers.

“If the number of patients keeps increasing beyond the hospital’s capacity, the ministry would consider setting up a field hospital in Mae Hong Son,” he added.